Woodside-Shearwater Active Transportation Planning

July 2022 Update - Public Engagement Now Closed

The project team shared several routing options and concepts for the Woodside-Shearwater connection at three Open House events in June and July. An online survey was available for three weeks, and is now closed. Over 800 people have participated in this round of engagement! Feedback will be used to inform the recommended design for this corridor.

Project Overview

The Halifax Regional Municipality is planning for the development of new active transportation facilities to support people walking, rolling, and bicycling in Woodside and Shearwater. Objectives of the project include:

This project will provide a key regional active transportation connection between Dartmouth and communities on the Eastern Shore.

The project team, including consultants from WSP, have developed several conceptual options for these areas. The purpose of the upcoming public engagement phase of the project is to share information with the public to help further develop the concepts and then select preferred options to advance to 30% design. The public is invited to share feedback on the concepts as well as other priorities for these streets and communities.

Construction of the preferred options would happen between 2024 and 2027, subject to funding and other factors such as a potential need to acquire property.

Background

The Integrated Mobility Plan (IMP) and Active Transportation Priorities Plan provide direction to improve the transportation links for residents within and between communities, and active transportation (AT) options are an important component. These plans focus on creating connected, healthy, affordable and sustainable travel options, and provide direction to build infrastructure such as sidewalks, pathways, protected bicycle lanes, and transit priority lanes.

There is a 3km gap between in the regional Active Transportation system between the Dartmouth Harbourfront Greenway (at the Woodside Ferry Terminal) and the Shearwater Flyer Trail (at Corsair Dr.). This corridor is identified in the Active Transportation Priorities Plan as part of the Regional Greenway Network. The segment between Woodside and the Shearwater Flyer is identified as a "Priority Planning Project" in the Integrated Mobility Plan and is also planned as a link in the Trans Canada Trail. The Trans Canada Trail organization provided a grant to support this planning project.

The project team is also considering changes to improve conditions for people walking, rolling and cycling along Pleasant Street from Acadia Street to Atlantic Street, and along Main Road from Corsair Drive to Hines Road.